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Dr. Paul Caron, assistant professor of education at USM/L-A, has been awarded a grant to integrate music with the study of mathematics and teaching methods. |
August 2006
Paul Caron, Ph.D., assistant professor of education at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College, was recently awarded a Faculty Technology Grant by the USM Faculty Senate. The funds will allow for the purchase of a digital recorder and music notation software. These will be used for writing and recording music for the Applied Problem Solving and Learning to Teach courses in the CLASS (Collaborative Learning and School Success) professional teacher preparation program.
“Empirical studies show a natural connection between the arts and the sciences that helps elementary and middle school students to construct personal meaning and knowledge,” says Caron. “Music can enhance the learning of content areas, especially in mathematics and science. These materials will help in creating an exciting learning environment.”
The college students in these courses will work with elementary and middle school students in writing songs about mathematics and science. Caron will combine his experience in writing original music and lyrics, his knowledge of mathematics and science, and his teaching experience to facilitate the process of creating music. “Students at all levels will compose and record their songs. The music notation software will be used to write and print the music. The digital recorder will allow us to create compact discs of the original music,” Caron added.
The Applied Problem Solving Course is a mathematics course developed for the CLASS program. This course is designed to introduce mathematical concepts and apply them in solving problems in various contexts. A major focus of the course is a classroom project. The students must design and implement a project using problem solving procedures in an area school.
The Learning to Teach Courses allow pre-service teachers the experience of working in a partner school, such as the Auburn Middle School. Several components of their learning and teaching experience require the students to teach in the classroom. In this venue, the future teachers model the best practices they have studied and observed from classroom teachers and university instructors.
The CLASS PDS (Professional Development School) Program provides all the education courses and experiences required to become a qualified, state-certified candidate for elementary and middle school teaching positions in the State of Maine. The education courses, field experiences and seminars all occur on-site in local public schools, currently the Sherwood Heights Elementary School and Auburn Middle School. Those interested are encouraged to call Jim Bradley at 753-6618 or visit the webpage at www.usm.maine.edu/lac/class for more information.
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